Glass feeder



' Nov. 2 6, 1929.. A. N. CRAMER GLASS FEEDER Filed sept'. s.' -.1923 e sheets-sheet Rw. E mN. n .m nn

Nov. 26, 1929. A, N. CAMER GLASS FEEDER Filed sept. 8, 1925 e sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR zafr N. (MMM Nov. 26, 1.9291.

A. N. CRAMER GLAss HTEDERl Filed sept. s, 192s 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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Nov. 26, 1929.

Nov.`26, 192,9. A, N. CRAMER GLASS FEEDER Filed Sept. 8, 1923 v e ysheets-sheet 5 y INVENTOR /44BERT` N. CEA/wf '5f/W A. N. CRAMER I GLAss FEEDER Nav, 26, 1929.

. 6 Sheets-Sheet 63 Filed sept. 8, 192s .Reim m OM y mm U wf. NN ,n IH H M onf Patented Nov. 26, 1929 ALBERT N. CRAMER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, AssIGNOR To 'OwENs-njLINO'Is* GLASS OOM- PANY, or TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO GLASS FEEDER Application filed September 8, 1923. Serial- No. 661,577.

My invention relates to glass feeders adapted for delivering individual masses or charges of glass from a receptacle containing a supply of molten glass. More particularly the invention relates to a feeder operative to simultaneously deliver a plurality of charges adapted for entering plural molds of a glass forming machine.r` r

The invention is herein shown in connection with a glass feeder comprising a furnace boot or'forehearth to which the glass is continuous* ly supplied from the main furnace, said container having outlet openings in the bottom thereof through which the glass issues. Regulating means reciprocating vertically in the glass over'the outlets, regulates andvcontrols the discharge.

An object of the invention is to provide in a glass feeder of the character above indicated, suitable means for rotating the regulator and therebyv maintaining a circulation or stirring of the glass in the container, such that sta gnation or chilling of the glass in front of the regulator is prevented and uneven or onesided chilling of the'issuing gobs or charges is avoided.

The present invention involves various features of novelty, especially adapted for maintaining a proper circulation of the glass in a feeder designed to deliver a plurality of charges simultaneously.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several forms of construction embodying the principles of my invention:

Figure 1 is a part sectional front elevation of a glass feeder in which a single plunger lor regulator controls the discharge through a plurality of outlets.

Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a part sectional front elevation of a modification inwhich separate plugs orv regulating devices are provided for the individual Outlets, meansv being provided for rotating said'devices about a common axis.

Figure 4 is a part sectional side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed view on a larger scale of the mechanism for causing an intermittent rotation of the regulating means shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a further modification in which the regulating plungers are rotated about their own axes.

' V Figure 7 is a section at the line VII-VII On Figure 6. Y t t Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the container 10, whichmay be the usual furnace boot or forehearth, is continuouslyV supplied with niolten glass `l1 from the main furnace. The glass issues through outlet openi ings 12 in the floor of the boot, and the issuing glass suspended from the outlet orifices is periodically severed by knives 13. The severed charges or gobs 14 drop into the molds of-a y forming machine. c

A vertical cylindrical plunger or regulator 15 projects downward into the glass over the Outlets and is preferably large enough to cover both outlets. The plunger is removably mounted in a head 6 on the lower end of a shaft 17 which extends upward through a bearing sleeve 18 formed on a stationary bracket 19, the latter being secured to the framework which supports the furnace boot and feeder mechanism. The upper end of the shaft 17 has a bearing in a block 20, the weight of the shaft and plunger being supported by ball bearings 22. The block 20 is pivotally supported ina yoke 23 by means of pivots 24. Said yoke is connected to an operating lever 25, the connection comprising a screw rod 26 rotatable in the yoke 23 and threaded through a block'2T pivoted in the forked end of the lever 25. The height of the plunger maybe adjusted by rotating the rod 26, by means of suitable gearing (not shown) manually operated by rotating a hand rod 28.

The operating lever 25 is fulcrumed at 29 on a stationary bracket 30. A cam roll 32 on the inner end of the lever, runs on a cam 33 fixed to a shaft 34 which is rotated continu- Ously by a sprocket chain 35. The cam Operates through the lever 25 to impart a periodic thereby controlling the discharge and shaping of the charges of'glass.

The plunger is rotated about its Own axis .vertical reciprocation to the plunger 15,

mechanism comprising a pinion 36 fixed to the shaft 17 and driven by a gear 37 secured to a shaft 3S. The shaft 38 is driven through a train of gearing comprising beveled gears 39 and 40, sprocket wheel 41 and sprocket chain 42, the latter driven by a' sprocket 'onthe cam shaft 34. Through the gearing. just described a continuous rotation alternately with the two openings. means for rotating the head 47 carryingv the y plugs comprises the gears 36, 37, 39, 40, a`

is imparted to the plunger 15.y This causes an active circulation of the glass around the axis of said plunger, preventing stagnation of the glass in front of the plunger and' causing a uniformity or homogeneity of the temperature of the glass issuing through the outlets. The gearing is preferably so proportioned that the plunger makes either a halfrotation or. one complete rotation for each vertical reciprocation, so that. the

plunger has a definite rotative position at the completion of its downward stroke. In"

this manner there is prevented any irregularity in the 'size or formationy of the charges j which might otherwise occur'on acco irregularities 1n the plunger.

untxof Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a modification in which are provided' a plurality ofl tive positions over the several openings.- For the purpose of illustration, two outlet openings are Vshown and .the plugs' arerevolved through a half-revolution for each complete reciprocation, so' that each plug cooperates r The sprocket wheel 48, sprocket chain. 49 and sprocket wheel 50, the latter mountedv on ashaft 51 (see Figure 5) jou'rnalled in a stationary bracket 52. Secured to the cam shaft l34 is a pinion 53, running in mesh with a gear wheel 54. A pitnian 'connects'the gear 54 with a rock arm 56 on a rock shaft 57 to v which is also connected'a gear segment 58.

The gear 54, as shown,vis twice the diameter of the pinion 53 so that for each complete rotation of the cam vshaft the gear 54 is rotated through 180 degrees. The rotation of the gear 54 rocks the gear segment 58 about its pivot. Each movement of the gear segment 58 operates through the gear teeth 60 thereon `to rotate a pinion 59 fixed on the shaft 51.y

The pinion 59 and gear segment 58 haveinterlockin Vsurfaces 62, whereby the pinion 59 is loc ed aain'strotation for ,predeter`- mined periods uring each oscillation of the gear segment. The arrangement is such that the head 47 and plugs 46 are held against rotative movement while in their lowered position. It will be noted that the rotation of the pinion 59 and, therefore, of the regulating plugs, is alternately in opposite directions,

although the invention is not limited to such alternate move nent. -By alternating the di# rection of revolution, a more thorough mix-. ing of t-he glass is"obtained, and there isf' avoided any liability of the movement ofv glass. developing into a current flowing through a channel of less active glass which is permitted to stagnate. The preferably proportioned to give eitier a complete rotation or a rotation through 180 degrees to the yoke 47 at each operation."

(fearing is Fi ures 6 and 7 show al further modiication in which the plugs or regulators 65 .are

rotatable abouttheir own axes.` vIn this ar rangement, intermeshing gears 66v are secured to the plunger shafts 17 so that when. one plungeris rotated the other is rotated in the opposite direction. The plungers may be ro tated continuously by the cam shaft 34 operating through the gearing 36, 37 and 42 as` described in connection with Figure l.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.l A

1. The combination of 'a container for molten glass provided with adjacent outlet openings through the floor thereof, regulating plunger-s projecting intovthe glass over n said openings, means to reciprocate the plungers to periodically suspend formed` charges from the walls of the-openings, and means for causing horizontal rotation'of the plungl ers,lsaid rotating means being arranged to impart rotary movement totheplungers during the intervals between ieciprocation of the latter.

2. In a glass forming apparatus, the combination of a container for molten glass provided With separate adjacent dischargeoutlets,niechanical regulating devices controlling the discharge, means for pe'riodically'reciprocating said devices vertically, and means causing horizontal rotation of said devices in synchronism with ar; d in the intervals between the reciprocating '.iiovements.

SKA container for inolteu glass provided with discharge outlets, va regulating plunger, means to reciprocate said plunger vertically,

and means to shift said 'plunger into register with said outlets successively.

. 4. A,container for molten glass provided with discharge outlets, jiilungers :projecting into the glass over said outlets, means to reciprecate said p1ungers, and means to move said lungers about a commonA axis and thereby.

rino each lunver successivel into register o a .Y v n with each of said outlets.

5. In lass feeding apparatus, lthe combination o a container for molten glass having outlet openings arranged side by side in the floor thereof, a lever, a. cam to operate said the reciprocating movements of the latter for causing a circulation of the glass within the container.

6. The combination of a furnace boot or extension Jforming aV container for molten glass and providedwith adjacentl outlet openings arranged side by side and extending through the floor of said boot, means for regulating and controlling the discharge of glass `through said openings and forming mold charges suspended from the walls ot' said openings, including a plunger projecting downward into the glass, a stationary bracket Supported on said boot over the outlets, a stem carried by said plunger and having a bearing in saidbracket, a level fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a yoke atone end ot' said lever pivotally connected to sai'd stem, a drive shaft, a cam thereon, a cam roll on the opposite end of said lever engaging said cam, an elongated gear pinion secured to said stem above said bracket to reciprocate with the plunger, a non-reciprocating driving gear mounted on 'said bracket and running in mesh with said pinion, and drivingI connections between said driving gear and the said drive shaft. j

' 7 Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass comprising a container for .the

glass having a bottom outlet, a plurality of implements, automatic means for bringing them periodically and in succession into operative position over the outlet, and means to operate each said implement when in said position to regulate the discharge of a charge of glass', said implements being thus operated in succession and the discharge of glass for successive mold charges controlled by different implements.

8. Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass comprising a container for the glass having a bottom outlet, a plurality of "implements, automatic means for bringing them periodically and in succession into operative position over the outlet, and means 'to reciprocate each implement vertically when in said position, said implements being thus operated in succession and the discharge of glass for successive mold charges controlled by different implements.

9. Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass comprising a container for the glass having a bottom outlet, a plurality of implements, automatic means for bringing them periodically and in succession into operative position over the outlet, means to operate each said implement when in said position to regulate the discharge of a charge of glass, whereby the discharge of the glass to form successive charges is controlled by different implements and manual adjusting means .by which the `movement ot' each implement may be varied independently of the others, said implements being thus operated in succession and the discharge of glass for successive mold charges controlled by different implements. f

l0. Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass comprising a container for'the glass having a bottom outlet, a plurality ot implements, automatic means for bringing them periodically and in succession into operative position over the outlet, means to reciprocate each implement vertically when in said positi on,-wherebythe discharge of the glass to form successive charges is controlled by different implements, and manual adjusting means by which the movement of each implement may be'varied independently of others. j

ll. Apparatus for delivering charges of molten glass comprising a container for the glass having a bottom outlet, a plurality of implements, automatic means for bringing thein periodically and in succession into operative position over the outlet, and means to actuate each said implement when in said position to control the discharge of a charge loit' glass, whereby the discharge of the glass to t'orin successive charges is controlled by different implements, said implements being so arranged that they will cause unequal volumes of glass to be" discharged, vwherebythe volumes of the charges will vary periodically in a. predetermined order.

l2. Glass feeding apparatus comprising, in

combination, a containerl for molten glass having a submerged outlet, plungers projecting into the glass, automatic means to bring the said plungers periodically and in succession caused toA control the discharge of glass tov form successive mold charges, and adjusting means individual to the plungers for adj usting the plungers vertically. 'i

14, Glassfeeding apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for molten glass having a submerged outlet, plungers projecty ing into the glass, automatic means to bring said'plungers periodically and' in succession to aposition over the outlet, means to reciprocate-cach plunger' up and-down when in said position, whereby different plungers are Vcaused to control the discharge of lass to.

iorml .successive mold charges, and a justing meansl individualto the plungers for separately adjusting the upper and lower limits of movement respectively of each plunger.

..10 l5.' ilassfceding apparatus comprisin ,in

combination, a container Afor molten g ass having a submerged outlet, plunvers reject-4 inginto the glass,va carrier-for tzlie p ungers,

i automatic. means' to rotate the carrier `about a vertical axis andthereby bring the plungers periodically andin succession to operative position over theoutlet, and means to reciprocato the plunger's'f when in said position,

-' whereby diii'crent-plungers are caused to con- 2@ trol the discharge of glass to form successive Amold charges. y j

16. Glass feeding apparatus com rising, in' combination, a container for mo ten glass having a submerged outlet,plunge1s project-l ing into the glass, a carrier for theplungers, automatic means to actuate the carrier and thereby bring the plungers periodically and in succession to operativeposition over the 0utlet, and means' tol aC-t'vliate'wthe plungers when in said operative position, whereby the discharge of the glass to formsuccessive 'mold charges is controlled by different plungers..

17. Apparatus. for delivering charges of molten glass comprising4 a container for the4 glass having a bottom outlet, 'a-pluralityoi:I implements projecting downward into the glass, means for moving saildg Vimplements laterallyy thru the glass and t ereby stirring the glass and bringing the implements peri- 4to odically and in succession into operative position over' the outlet, and lmeans to Vactuate each implement when in said position to y.control the discharge of a charge of glass. l j

18. Glass feeding apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for inoltenglass ,having a bottom outlet, plungers projecting downward into the grlassneans for-moving the plungers laterallyK thru the glass for stirring the glass and bringing the plunger-'s periodically and in succession to a position over the outlet, and meanstoflnove'each'plunger` up and down when in said position;

Sioned at Toledo, in the countyoffLiicas' and tate of Ohio, this/ith day of September,

i 'ALBERT N. CRAMER. 

